The F1 Experience

[SpeedTech]

Just a quik question to the members of this forum. I would like to know since everyone here has a fair bit of F1 knowledge, who actually use's that knowledge to play F1 simulation games on their PC?

If you look at GP4 on PC, the amount of things you can do to a car setup wise is like the real thing. This will probably be the closet any of us will get to driving an F1 car. You might not feel the G force but the car handling is so realitic

[Monstrobolaxa]

Well....I use my F1 knowledge to setup the car...I even have 2 friends that pay me 2€ per setup....

Actually everything that I've read in the technical books have really helped me in setting up the cars......I 1996 with GP2....I lapped 215 laps in a day at Estoril just to find the perfect setup....and I did....I even broke the oficial lap record....but just at Estoril...... Nowadays I only spend between 20 min and an hour to find the ideal setup....

Knowing a bit of F1 Technology has really helped me a lot....and with the car dynamic I've learned I been helping another friend setting up his go-kart....

[arisen]

I play F1 Challenge, but setting up the car is usually a stab in dark for me.
Main problem I got is setting up spring and dampers and antiroll bars to
make the car stable over the kerbs, but there are other problems too. Like
all the setups I tried are perfectly symmetrical (left and right side), yet I
think there are advantages if you have the knowledge to make
asymmetrical setups work. I’ve seen real life photos where it looks like
different camber angle for FL and FR tires are used, but I’m thinking things
like tire pressure, and spring and damping rates can also be different.

[akbar21881]

Hey,this is an interesting topic.Most of us must be F1 freak that played endlessly on PC or game console.

i was playing like crazy too about two years ago,lapping hundreds of lap to find the right setup.

My favourite track is Suzuka,particularly the first corner which I feel very hard to find the right setup.At this track,I used to put more downforce at the front,which is logically aerdynamically imbalance.I did this because my ideal downforce level make me difficult to slipstream and past other car on the straight.My car is just fine in this setup with heavy fuel load,but when Fuel load is going down,my car will spin at the first corner without any warning at all.

so I want to ask you guys,is there is any way to compensate for the lack of downforce by messing with suspension setting and brake balance?I don't want to add more downforce at theback because I prefer the car to be very pointy at the corner.

[joseff]

Frankly I never played F1 games... IMHO they're never realistic enough. All the driving game I play these days is Gran Turismo 3 (can't wait for 4!)

And yes, GT3 is the *only* reason I bought a PS2 + Logitech Formula Force.

[SpeedTech]

akbar have you tryed with suspension and damper sttinegs. If you have the PC game of GP4 there is a mulimedia feature which show you around the car as well as what dose what.Very helpful

[NickT]

I have only ever played an early version of Colin McRae Rally and never found the thing very realistic - there was no feedback from the steering and the wheels were either at full lock or straight ahead!

From what I can gather these things have improved quite significantly. I have a pretty powerful PC use for CAD work and gaming. What steering wheel works well and which game/simulation should I buy?

Oh to be able to pick my line and follow it through the tunnel at Monaco , to pick my breaking point bottom of the hill and feather the brakes as I turn in first left, feel the understeer as I flick it right before burying the throttle on exit.......... Almost heaven!!!!!....... Might become compulsive and obsessive about it and never work, sleep or eat again, but who cares when you can lap Monaco like a pro!

Hey did you guys know Jacques Villeneuve used a Play Station to learn the circuits in his first year in formula one.

[arisen]

As far as PC wheels go, you have to get the Logitech Momo Force. The bad news is that it's not in production anymore,
so you’ll probably have to find some internet retailer to get one, but it’s definitely worth the effort. Check Amazon.com for ex.
A word of caution, it’s not the same wheel as the Logitech Momo Racing which you can find in stores right now, and it’s a low
quality plastic version of the Momo force wheel. You can search for some reviews, but I guarantee it, it’s the best out there.

If money is no object you can also check http://www.thomas-superwheel.com, or if you’re on a budget the Microsoft wheel
is very precise and reliable too.

[joseff]

Also check logitech.com. I recall the Momo Force was compatible with only certain games...

I still somewhat recommend the PS2 + GT Force (or Formula Force) for realism.

[NickT]

Ok guys, that's the wheel options sorted out. Now which game sould I buy for my PC?

[arisen]

Well, if you’re looking a modern F1 sim there’s only one option imo: F1 Challenge 99-02. The car physics are second to none,
which in turn make an excellent driving model with very comprehensive telemetry data and setup options. Of course, expect
a very steep learning curve, with lap times around 10 seconds off the pace for the first year or so . If you get the game make
sure you start by reading the F1 Challenge Driving Guide by ForthRight which will give a good idea about setting up your wheel
and other important game settings.

Not really an option imo, but just to mention the other contender, Grand Prix 4, more suited for the casual racer, with an
excellent overall F1 atmosfere, but lacking an accurate physics model leading to somewhat artificial driving techniques,
setups and unrealistic lap times.

[akbar21881]

talking about realistic lap times,if you play F1 2000 championship on Ps one, your lap times for Hungoraring and Indianapolis will be as fast as 58 seconds!!!

But F1 2001 on PS2 are much harder,especially in simulation mode.Go over the grass once and you'll be all over the place once you get back onto the track.

In terms of having fun playing with setup.PC games are more detailed.I used to play F1 2000 but have stop since my new computer is so underpowered for gaming.Can't wait to get back to Malaysia,can upgrade my computer with virtualy no cost at all because computer is dirt cheap there.

[SpeedTech]

Actually never played F1 Challenge never heard of it

Oh well got to go to the Games shop now,lol

Thx again akbar, just curious, do you also post on the F1 live forums ?

[arisen]

Check out these onboard comparison laps to real f1:

Magny-Cours and Catalunya. (about 12Mb each wmv videos)

[SpeedTech]

Unfortunatly my windows player dosn't play the clips corrupt files is what keeps coming up

Oh well life go's on